Mahmoud Abu Hannoud

"There had been few who died gun in hand in Palestine before Sheikh Ezzedeen Al-Qassam; but there have been thousands who did so after him."

Mahmoud Abu Hannoud was one of those who followed the path of Al-Qassam. He was one who contributed much to his people through the Islamic Resistance Movement In the West Bank.

Childhood and Education:

Mahmoud was born on July 1st, 1967 in the village of Asiera El-Shamaleya. He finished his secondary school in the village. And he completed his university studies in 1995 in Islamic Law "Shar'ia."

Jihad:

Abu Hannoud was a Hamas activist during the first Intifada (st. 1987). He was seriously injured during confrontations against the Zionist occupation. Then was arrested and sent to Zionist jails.

He was exiled with 400 leaders from Hamas movement to Marj Al-Zuhur. Nonetheless, he was determined to stay committed to Jihad against the occupation. He went on to become a very key military leader in Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades.

Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades:

Abu Hannoud was one of the commanders of Al-Qassam Brigades. He became number one wanted man on the occupation's list after the assassination of Mohye A-Din A-Sharif. And so they tried to assassinate him. The first attempt was a fierce battle, which he survived by the Guidance of Allah.

The battle was in his home village, near Nablus, against special occupation units consisting of hundreds of enemy soldiers backed by five helicopter gunships and armored vehicles. He was able to kill three enemy soldiers and wound nine others, one of whom sustained serious injuries.

The occupation army's suspicious moves started at 9.50 pm Saturday a few meters away from Abu Hannoud's house. Close to that house there was a house of one of his relatives named Nidhal Daghles Abu Yassin, where the occupation army expected to find Abu Hannoud. The enemy soldiers and snipers occupied surrounding houses, and took positions in key spots on rooftops to tighten their siege.

During that siege and build up, Abu Hannoud was not inside the house, but rather in its vicinity where he surprised the enemy by opening his machinegun fire at the panicked soldiers.

The occupation troops wounded the owner of the house Nidhal Daghles in the chest and feet; and he could not get out of the house due to his severe injuries. Two hours later the enemy soldiers stormed the house and dragged Daghles out of it for more than 50 meters. They started torturing him, beating his wounds, to force him provide information on Abu Hannoud.

The night of northern Asyira turned into daylight due to the flares fired in the sky. These flares were seen by all in the Nablus. Shooting and clashes continued until a late hour.

During that battle between Abu Hannoud and the enemy soldiers, calls of Allah Akbar and "there is no God but Allah" were raised from the Mosques' loudspeakers, along with calls on the inhabitants to break the curfew imposed on the village. Calls were also voiced for aiding Abu Hannoud in a bid to break the siege. Men, women, young and old, rushed to the rescue and clashed with the enemy's confused soldiers.

Mahmoud Abu Hannoud was able to escape from the occupation's siege, and reach Nablus despite the injuries in his shoulder, arm and back, and the enemy's chase.

In Nablus, Palestinian Authority's security men arrested him!

The Failure … A clear Evidence of the weakness:

More than 300 special occupation troops, along with their helicopters, reconnaissance planes and advanced hardware failed in detaining Mahmoud Abu Hannoud. Further, he killed three soldiers and injured many others. This proved that the "invincible Zionist army" is nothing but a myth when confronted by determination and rights, and above all the Assistance of Allah. The failure also proved that resistance is an option capable of inflicting heavy losses among the ranks of the occupation army, in the defense of Palestinian people's rights.

The second attempt …another failure:

Jailed by the Palestinian Authority in Nablus, Abu Hannoud was a sitting target in jail. And the occupation tried to kill him with an F-16 strike on the Jail. Abu Hannoud was praying at the time of the strike. The whole prison was destroyed; but the room where he was held remained intact. People saw Mahmoud help with rescuing the those injured in the cowardly strike.

Jihad Operations:

Occupation sources state that Mahmoud is responsible for a long list of operations. They include:

- October 1995: firing at the car of a settler Rabbi, who was injured in the attack.

- November 1995: firing at an occupation army patrol near Nablus. No injuries were disclosed.

- May 1996: firing at a settler bus near the settlement of Beit El. One settler was killed and 3 injured.

- May 1996: firing at an occupation army patrol. One officer was lightly injured.

- May 1997: firing at a settler vehicle near the settlement of Alon Morei. No injuries were disclosed.

- July 1997: detonating a roadside bomb against an occupation patrol. Two soldiers were injured.

- September 1997: martyrdom operation in Bnei Yehuda. Five were killed and 120 injured.

- September 1997: martyrdom operation in Al-Quds. Five were killed and 169 injured.

- November 1997: failed attempt to kidnap an occupation soldier.

Martyrdom: In November 23rd, 2001, occupation helicopters fired 5 rockets at the car in which Abu Hannoud was traveling. Two others were killed in the strike. Abu Hannoud was killed after leading Al-Qassam Brigades during some of the most difficult times in the late 1990's. He stuck to the road of resistance; and rebuilt Al-Qassam Brigades in the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada. He left behind soldiers who honored the tradition of Jihad.